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Republicans argue that retiring House Democrats are avoiding tough re-election bids next year.

Washington (CNN) – House Democrats are pushing back against GOP claims that Rep. Brian Baird's decision to not seek re-election signals that the party in power is in store for a drubbing in 2010.

With his announcement Wednesday, Baird, a six-term Congressman from Washington state, became the third Democrat this year to announce plans to retire. Six other House Democrats are leaving at the close of the 111th Congress to seek another office.

The National Republican Congressional Committee heralded Baird's decision as a sign that "Democrat incumbents are feeling the ground shaking underneath them" as they head into the next cycle.

Not so fast, argues Ryan Rudominer of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Rudominer pointed out that at this time in 2007, roughly one year before the GOP took a beating for the second straight election cycle, 15 House Republicans had announced their retirement. Three more Republicans had chosen to leave their seats in pursuit of higher office.

"All year long, national Republicans have predicted a tidal wave of Democratic retirements and just like they falsely predicted winning last month in a seat that had been Republican since the Civil War, we haven't seen anything like the number of Republican retirements at this point last cycle," Rudominer said in an e-mail.

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Washington (CNN) – Call it the New York-23 effect: Both the Democratic and Republican congressional re-election committees spent more money than they took in last month.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reported Thursday that it raised $3.76 million in October, but spent $3.98 million. A similar story from the National Republican Congressional Committee, which said it brought in $3.4 million last month, but spent $3.6 million.

So where did the money go? Both committees infused campaign cash into the special election in New York's 23rd congressional district.

The race, to fill the seat left vacant when Republican congressman John McHugh stepped down to become Secretary of the Army, turned into a three-way contest between official GOP candidate Dede Scozzafava, Conservative Party candidate Dough Hoffman, and Democrat Bill Owens.

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WASHINGTON (CNN) - Congressional Democrats won the money war in September.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced Monday that it doubled its Republican counterpart in fundraising last month, bringing in $7.05 million to bring its total to $14.7 million in the bank.

The National Republican Campaign Committee brought in $3.4 million in September and now has $4.3 million cash on hand. This is the fourth straight month that House Republicans have topped $3 million, which spokesman Paul Lindsay called one of the "encouraging signs."

"Our continued and steady improvement in grassroots fundraising is just one of the many encouraging signs that the policies of a Democrat-run Washington are mobilizing Americans to take action and support our efforts," Lindsay said in a statement.

Senate Democrats had similar success last month. Last week, they announced they had outraised the National Republican Senatorial Committee $5.9 million to $3.2 million in September.

The NRCC tweet before it was removed.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The National Republican Congressional Committee has removed a tweet Tuesday that linked to a video comparing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with Adolf Hitler.

The tweet, sent out Tuesday morning on their official Twitter account, read: "Funny Video: Moonbattery: Hitler Reacts to ObamaCare Maneuvers http://bit.ly/2mOvZ7 #Pelosi". It comes the same day the NRCC released a petition on their site to "Fire Nancy Pelosi."

The tweet immediately drew strong criticism from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "House Republicans have gone way too far. The NRCC's despicable promotion of a video comparing Speaker Pelosi's effort to reform health insurance in America to Adolf Hitler's extermination of millions is a shocking new low that must be condemned," said DCCC spokeswoman Jennifer Crider. "Republican Leader John Boehner should order NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions to immediately remove this vile Tweet and apologize."

NRCC spokesman John Randall said Tuesday the group had made a mistake. "We obviously made an error in linking to this video and it has been taken down," said Randall.

This tweet comes on the heels of a controversial NRCC statement last week that called on Gen. Stanley McChrystal to "put [Pelosi] in her place" on the topic of Afghanistan.

Follow Eric Kuhn on Twitter @KuhnCNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The House Democratic and Republican campaign committees Friday each reported raising more than $3 million last month, but Democrats maintain a significant cash-on-hand advantage over the GOP one year before the midterm elections.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said it raised $3.3 million in August, and currently has just over $10.7 million in the bank. Meanwhile, the National Republican Congressional Committee reported collecting about $3.2 million last month, leaving it with a cash-on-hand balance of $4.2 million.

Even though the DCCC is carrying more than double the debt of the NRCC - $4.7 million to $2 million - Democrats ended the month with a stronger bank balance of more than $6 million, compared to the GOP's $2.2 million.

House Democrats feature former GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in a new fundraising push.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – House Democrats feature former GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in a new fundraising push that is doubling as a way to distribute talking points on the issue of health care reform.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee blasted out an email Wednesday accusing Republicans of trying to "defeat health insurance reform" with "lies," as well as disrupting town hall meetings that are taking place during the summer congressional recess.

"Now, Sarah Palin is outrageously claiming that Americans 'would have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel" to receive care," DCCC Executive Director Jon Vogel writes in the email that includes a picture of the former Alaska governor. "While Palin's attack is a complete fabrication, the GOP is closing ranks to defend these outright lies. Over the weekend, former Speaker Newt Gingrich stood by Palin's bizarre "death panel" accusation on national TV."

Related: Palin's favorable rating dips in new CNN poll

A hyperlink embedded in the email then takes supporters to the DCCC Web site where people can print out a free copy of the talking points or if they make a donation then a set of "five pre-printed 'Health Care Fact Check' Cards on heavy-duty card stock to keep or share with friends and family" will be sent to their address.

Using the image or name of an opponent is often used by both Democrats and Republicans to encourage people to contribute money as well as excite grassroots activists to become involved in a political campaign or cause.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is continuing its campaign to pressure Republicans - particularly members who represent districts won by President Obama in 2008 - over health care reform.

Most are on the National Republican Congressional Committee's Patriot program list of potentially threatened incumbents, and the DCCC's list of top 2010 targets; the majority are already facing serious Democratic challengers.

"We already know Congressman Pat Tiberi took nearly $600,000 from the insurance industry," says the narrator in a minute-long radio spot slated to run in Ohio's 12th congressional district over the August recess.

"So what do you think Tiberi talks about when he meets with the big insurance companies? How they reap record profits while your health care costs skyrocket? Or how the special interests want to stop health reform? Whatever it is Tiberi and the insurance companies talk about, it probably isn't affordable health care for you…"

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(CNN) - It's an Independence Day ad campaign with a familiar ring: the spots criticize members of Congress who opposed a supplemental spending bill for "voting against funding for [the] troops."

For the past few cycles, the GOP used similar district-specific ads to blast vulnerable Democrats over opposition to former President Bush's war funding bills.

But there's a new session, a new president, and a new sponsor for the spots: the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which is releasing 60-second radio ads that take aim at seven Republican incumbents for their votes last week against President Obama's request for additional resources to fund operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The targets include: Reps. Ken Calvert and Dan Lungren of California, Charlie Dent and Jim Gerlach of Pennsylvania, Mike McCaul of Texas, Joe Wilson of South Carolina and Lee Terry of Nebraska.

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New York Rep. Peter King is one of six House Republicans targeted in a new DCCC ad campaign.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is taking aim at six House Republicans for their votes earlier this year against President Obama's $787 billion stimulus package.

The committee is launching radio ads Monday against Rep. Brian Bilbray of California's 50th congressional district; Rep. Charlie Dent, Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district; Rep. Peter King, New York's 3rd congressional district; Rep. Thad McCotter, Michigan's 11th congressional district; Rep. Tom Rooney, Florida's 16th congressional district, and Alaska's Rep. Don Young. The ads will run for a week, according to the DCCC.

E-mails and automated calls about the six Republicans' stimulus votes are also part of the DCCC latest ad campaign.

(Read the script of a radio ad and of an automated call after the jump)
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Obama will headline a fundraiser for the DSCC and the DCCC.

(CNN) - The Democratic Senate and congressional campaign committees will not accept cash from political action organizations or lobbyists during a fundraiser to be headlined by President Obama, a Democratic source confirms to CNN.

The White House stipulated the condition for the major June 18 fundraising event, expected to raise millions for 2010 Senate and congressional candidates.

Obama banned PAC and lobbyist donations during the presidential campaign to square with his pledge to limit the influence of special interests in Washington. He instituted a similar rule at the Democratic National Committee after winning the White House.

But both the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee - which along with their GOP counterparts have historically relied on PAC and lobbyist contributions - will return to accepting such funds after the Obama fundraiser.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said Wednesday he had cautioned some liberal leaders to ease some of their toughest attacks on moderate Democrats.

"What I've been warning people very clearly is: beware of forming a circular firing squad," Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen told reporters at a Wednesday afternoon briefing. "We believe people should be focusing their efforts on expanding the Democratic majority - and that should be their singular focus."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made similar comments last week, criticizing ads pressuring some Democratic legislators to support President Obama's budget plan.

Van Hollen also predicted that venture capitalist Scott Murphy capture the majority of outstanding military and absentee votes in New York's 20th congressional district race.

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Both parties are trying to use Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to fundraise.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Congressional Democrats and Republicans disagree on just about everything - except for Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's fundraising potential.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee asked supporters Tuesday to make a donation to help stop the former vice presidential candidate and her fellow Republicans from blocking President Obama's policy goals.

"The Republicans have called on none other than Sarah Palin to headline their big fat-cat fundraising dinner," James Carville, a Democratic strategist, wrote in a Tuesday e-mail. "You know they're going to use every last dime they raise to try to slam the brakes on President Obama's change agenda."

Carville, a CNN contributor, is referring to the announcement by congressional Republicans that Palin would be headlining a major fundraising dinner in June. But it is not clear if Palin will attend the fundraiser, let alone headline it. A Palin spokesman said the governor did not know about the event, and it appears there was some confusion between her staff in Alaska and political aides in Washington.

While Palin has yet to make a decision on the dinner, an organizer of the fundraiser said that they are still "moving forward as planned."

What's clear is that Republican and Democratic political strategists believe that Palin can be an effective tool to raise money.

(CNN) – The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is putting some political muscle behind Scott Murphy, a New York Democrat fighting for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s former House seat, by funding a new radio ad that hit Empire State airwaves on Monday.

The battle between Murphy, a venture capitalist, and New York General Assembly Minority Leader Republican Jim Tedisco has turned especially nasty on the airwaves over the past few weeks. A special election for the seat is scheduled for March 31.

In the latest ad, called “Just Won’t Do,” Murphy attacks Tedisco for staying silent on whether or not he supports President Obama’s stimulus package. He also criticizes Tedisco for not saying if he supports caps on executive compensation for companies receiving federal bailout money.

Tedisco spokesman Joshua Fitzpatrick immediately released a statement calling the ad a “bold-faced lie.”

Murphy and Tedisco are fighting for the House seat in New York’s 20th congressional district, which Gillibrand occupied until she was tapped to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate. The district traditionally leans Republican, and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele has said winning the race is a priority. The RNC has already funded ads for Tedisco.

The DCCC would not say how much money it spent on the ad.

Mitt Romney's PAC announced Monday that it is donating money to nearly all of a group of House Republicans who are being targeted by a Democratic campaign because of their opposition to the stimulus bill.

(CNN) – Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is lending a financial hand to a group of House Republicans who have become targets of a new Democratic campaign over their opposition to the $787 billion stimulus bill.

In recorded telephone messages, text messages, and e-mails set to be sent out this week, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee plans to highlight the opposition of 12 House Republicans to stimulus package.

“What Republicans wanted was a bill to strengthen the economy,” Romney said in a statement announcing the $1000 donations by his Free and Strong America PAC. “What the Democrats passed was a bill to stimulate government. We are committed to helping these courageous Republicans defend their position and fend off political attacks.”

The “Undaunted Dozen,” as Romney calls them, “[stood] up for fiscal responsibility and [said] no to spending abuse.”

Although the former GOP presidential hopeful referred to the dozen members targeted by the DCCC, Rep. Adam Putnam of Florida was not sent a donation because he has announced that he is not seeking re-election in 2010, according to the PAC’s statement.

Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Florida, is among the House Republicans the DCCC is targeting.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – A dozen House Republicans are targeted in a new House Democratic political campaign that criticizes the GOP lawmakers for opposing the $787 billion stimulus package.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will contact voters this week by telephone with a recorded message saying that their Republican congressman voted “against the largest tax cut in history,” and against a stimulus bill that the business friendly U.S. Chamber of Commerce supported.

The campaign also includes “emails and text messages directly to targeted Republicans’ constituents,” a DCCC official tells CNN. House Democrats have also created a Web site to explain how they believe the stimulus bill will affect individual congressional districts.

Only three congressional Republicans, all senators, voted for the final passage of the stimulus bill.

Full list of Republicans targeted after the jump

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Rep. Chris Van Hollen will stay on as DCCC head through 2010.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – After telling reporters last week that he wasn't planning to run for another term as the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Rep. Chris Van Hollen has changed his mind and agreed to stay on for the 2010 election cycle, two senior Democratic congressional sources confirmed to CNN.

The Washington Post first reported the Maryland congressman's decision.

With Van Hollen at the helm of the DCCC this year House Democrats picked up 19 seats, with results from another six House races still outstanding. These gains follow 30 Democratic pickups in the House in 2006, when the party took control of the chamber after 12 years in the minority.

Speaker Pelosi also tapped Van Hollen for another leadership role, giving him the post of Assistant to the Speaker. One aide described this as a way to give the Maryland Democrat a bigger role at the leadership table: "He has a bigger portfolio - it expands it to policy, it's not just political."

With Van Hollen taking himself out of the race to replace Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel as Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, Pelosi avoids a fight for the number four position. The job is now virtually assured to go to Emanuel's vice chairman, Connecticut Congressman John Larson.

Hayes is facing a tough reelection race.

(CNN) - A North Carolina congressman locked in a tight re-election race admitted Tuesday to recently telling a crowd of John McCain supporters that "liberals hate real Americans," the latest in a string of comments from Republicans that appear to question Democrats' patriotism.

Rep. Robin Hayes, a five-term Republican who has been heavily targeted by Democrats this election cycle, first denied making the remarks, but conceded Monday afternoon that he was accurately quoted.

"After reading it, there is no doubt that it came out completely the wrong way," Hayes said. “I actually was trying to work to keep the crowd as respectful as possible, so this is definitely not what I intended."

The comments came at a McCain rally in Concord, North Carolina Saturday before the Arizona senator or members of his staff had arrived at the event. As first reported by the New York Observer, Hayes said, "Liberals hate real Americans that work and achieve and believe in God."

Hayes also told the raucous crowd to make sure "we don't say something stupid, make sure we don't say something we don't mean," warning the news media would likely distort such remarks.

In his statement Tuesday, Hayes suggested he meant to differentiate between the liberal and conservative philosophies rather than directly impugn the patriotism of his opponents.

"Liberals are advocating higher taxes, which I believe punish success - and they are advocating policies like gay marriage that I feel undermine strong families," he said. "We have a strong difference of opinion about the future of our nation, but obviously this was the wrong way to get that difference of opinion across."

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Hayes is facing a tough reelection race.

(CNN) - A North Carolina congressman locked in a tight re-election race admitted Tuesday to recently telling a crowd of John McCain supporters that "liberals hate real Americans," the latest in a string of comments from Republicans that appear to question Democrats' patriotism.

Rep. Robin Hayes, a five-term Republican who has been heavily targeted by Democrats this election cycle, first denied making the remarks, but conceded Monday afternoon that he was accurately quoted.

"After reading it, there is no doubt that it came out completely the wrong way," Hayes said. “I actually was trying to work to keep the crowd as respectful as possible, so this is definitely not what I intended."

The comments came at a McCain rally in Concord, North Carolina Saturday before the Arizona senator or members of his staff had arrived at the event. As first reported by the New York Observer, Hayes said, "Liberals hate real Americans that work and achieve and believe in God."

Hayes also told the raucous crowd to make sure "we don't say something stupid, make sure we don't say something we don't mean," warning the news media would likely distort such remarks.

In his statement Tuesday, Hayes suggested he meant to differentiate between the liberal and conservative philosophies rather than directly impugn the patriotism of his opponents.

"Liberals are advocating higher taxes, which I believe punish success - and they are advocating policies like gay marriage that I feel undermine strong families," he said. "We have a strong difference of opinion about the future of our nation, but obviously this was the wrong way to get that difference of opinion across."

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Van Hollen said Bush's policies were responsible for high gas prices.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - House Democrats will use a President Bush impersonator in a new radio advertising campaign that seeks to link 13 incumbent Republicans to rising gas prices as the country heads into the Fourth of July holiday.

The ad will run Monday through Friday in radio markets throughout the country, according to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, with a total buy of more than $100,000.

After an opening tailor-made for each targeted Republican, the impersonator then reads this boilerplate script:

"'W' here, wanted to thank you for your support of the big oil energy agenda. 'Preciate you voting to keep giving billions in tax breaks to the big oil companies. Sure, gasoline is over four bucks a gallon and the oil companies are making record profits, but what's good for big oil is good for America, right? I guess that's why they call us the Grand Oil Party. Heh, heh, heh."

CLICK PLAY to HEAR the DCCC's Bush impersonator

Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen, chairman of the DCCC, told CNN that Democrats chose to use a Bush impersonator because the president's "big oil energy policies delivered high gas prices to the American people, so who better to deliver our message than someone who sounds like him? Every time Americans fill up their tanks or buy groceries high gas prices grab their attention, so it's important to give credit where credit is due."

Danny Diaz, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, sharply criticized the ad and said Democrats were being disingenuous.

"It is an outrageous attack," Diaz said. "It seems like it would be more appropriate leveled against Barack Obama who voted for the '05 energy bill, yet Democrats rail against subsidies to energy companies. The hypocrisy is stunning."

(List of targeted Republicans after the jump)

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Van Hollen is chairman of the DCCC.

(CNN) - The top Democrat charged with helping his party maintain control of the House in 2008 warned Tuesday congressional candidates could suffer if the Democratic presidential race turns overly negative.

Speaking at a press briefing with reporters, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen predicted the Democrats will pick up House seats in November, but said the ongoing contest between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama remains a "variable."

"We've seen the energy and excitement in the early Democratic primaries, and the only thing that could hurt or cut back on that is if the Democratic primary gets so divisive that it's difficult to patch it up and heal the wounds in time to be together in November," said Van Hollen, who has not endorsed either candidate.

"We need to make sure that both candidates stay positive so you don't leave lasting wounds that will depress in anyway that kind of energy and enthusiasm," he added. "I don't think we are at that point. I do think there is a danger of reaching that point."

At the same briefing, Clinton backer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Chuck Schumer sounded a less dire tone, saying the hotly-contested race will benefit the party come November.

“Each is getting to refine their message and battle test their campaigns in this primary," he said. "I don't think any damaging blows have been landed by one or the other, and damaging to the general election, and I think both are very strong candidates."